Manufacture of glass sheets



Sept. 3, 1935. E. DONNINI MANUFACTURE OF GLASS SHEETS Filed June 30,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l n* o\\| uw INVENTOR @n-Tlv@ Sept 3, 1935. E.DONNINI v 2,013,459

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS SHEETS Filed June 50, 1953 2 'sheets-sheet 2INVENTOR Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUFACTUREOF GLASS SHEETS Application June 30, 1933, Serial No. 678,461

4 Claims.

My invention relates generally to the manufacture of glass sheets, andmore particularly to the cutting of the formed sheet, and provides animproved method and apparatus for removing objectionable edges of theformed sheet and for cutting the sheet to a desired size.

In the manufacture of glass sheets, the sheets are drawn from a bath ofmolten glass by means of draft rollers. The formed sheet in someprocesses, such as the Forcault process, is drawn vertically through anannealing or cooling tunnel, and when a sufficient length of the sheetvhas been formed and sufficiently cooled, the travelling sheet is scoredcross-wise by a cutting tool, and that portion of the sheet above thescore flexed relative to the remainder of the continuous sheet to causethe portion above the score to break away from the remainder of thesheet. In other processes, the formed sheet is drawn vertically by draftrollers and passes over suitably arranged horizontal rollers andcontinues through the annealing or cooling tunnel in a horizontaldirection. In such processes when a suflicient length to form a sheethas been formed and sufficiently cooled, the horizontally travellingsheet is scored transversely thereof by a cutting tool, and the portionof the sheet beyond the score flexed relative to the remainder of thesheet to cause the portions to separate.

In the drawing of glass sheets, the edges thereof are not uniform inthickness or have been devfaced by the drawing apparatus, and it isnecessary to remove these edges.

In some processes the edges assume the form of small bulbs and it isnecessary to remove these so-called bulb edges in order to obtain asheet of uniform thickness Yfrom one edge to the other.

Heretofore, these bulb edges or otherwise objectionable edges have beenremoved from the sheets after severance from the continuous sheet.Heretofore, the continuous sheet has been scored and the portion Vabovethe score flexed so as to sever the sheet from the continuous sheet, andthe individual sheets then placed on cutting tables and vthe defectiveedges removed and the sheets then each individual glass sheet afterseverance from the continuous sheet.

By my invention I provide a method of and apparatus for removing thedefective edges from the continuously rising sheet before it is severedinto smaller sheets of the desired length. In accordance with myinvention, not only may the continuously rising sheet be suitably scoredfor the removal of the defective edges before being severed int-osmaller sheets, but the sheet may be cut or scored to the appropriatewidth at the same time, thereby obviating the necessity of furthercutting in order t-o obtain sheets of the desired size. It will beunderstood, of course, that a single score line adjacent each edge ofthe ccntinuously rising glass sheet will be suflicient to both removethe defective edges and cut the sheet to the desired width. I have foundthat sheets cut in accordance with my invention are suflicientlyaccurate for commercial purposes, and that additional cutting thereof isentirely unnecessary. The elimination of the step of cutting theindividual sheets for the removal of the defective edges and for cuttingthe sheets to Ythe desired size, and the elimination of the handling ofthe sheets incident to the cutting materially reduces the cost ofmanufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustrationonly a preferred Aembodiment of my invention. In the drawings theapparatus which I provide is shown applied to a drawing process whereinthe continuously rising glass sheet is drawn vertically until cut to thedesired lengths. It will be understood, however,

that my invention may be applied to a horizontally 35 travelling glasssheet and that it is not dependent upon the particular method of drawingused.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing that portion ofthe glass drawing apparatus adjacent 40 the upper end of the annealingor cooling tunnel, in combination with the apparatus which I provide;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1with the driving gears for the draft rollers removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus which I provide;

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of the cutter holder;

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the pivot block adapte-d to carrythe cutter holder shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figures 8 and 9 are details of the plate adapted to carry the pivotblock shown in Figures 6 and 7; i

Figure 13 is a detail View of the rocker shaft on which the slide blocksare mounted; and

Figures 14 and 15 are detail views of the weight lever carried by therocker shaft.

As stated above, the glass is formed in continuous sheet form and iscarried vertically by A means of draft rollers located in the annealingor cooling tunnel. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, it iscontinued vertically by a plurality of pairs of draft rollers 2 and 3carried by the frame l5. On one end of the shaft 5 of each roll 2 adriving gear 6 is mounted, which cooperates with suitable drivingmechanism fordriving the rolls. The rolls 3 may or may not be driven.They are forced into' contact with the advancing glass sheet by weights'I carried on bell cranks 8.

In accordance with my invention, I provide cutting mechanism forcontinuously scoring the formed continuous sheet longitudinally thereofas it is advanced by the draft rollers. The cutting apparatus shown inthe drawings comprises two cutters 9 having cutter wheels ID mountedthereon. These cutters 9 are mounted adjacent vone face of the advancingsheet and each is located adjacent an edge thereof. Each cutter 9 ismounted in an opening I Iwin the upper end of a cutter holder I2. Eachcutter 9 is held in position in the opening I E by means of a set screwI3. Each cutter holder I2 is provided'with a tapered bearing I4 on eachside thereof adapted to receive the tapered ends I5 of screws I6threaded in a pivot block II. The tapered portions I5 of the screws I6form trunnions or pivots about which thev cutter holder may rotate.

Each pivot block Il is rigidly secure-d to a plate I8 by screws i9 whichcooperate with threaded openings 2B in the pivot block l1. The screws I9pass through openings ZI in said plate I8. Each plate I8 is mounted on aslide block 22 by bolts 23 threaded in threaded openings 24 in the slideblock. Each block 22 is provided with a'horizontally extending opening25 adapted to receive the transversely extending rocker shaft 26. Thisrockershaft 26 is mounted in bearings 2T! carried by the main frame 4.The rocker shaft is provided with longitudinally extending keyways 28which are adapted to receive the ends of set screws AZlthreaded in eachslide block for maintaining the rocker shaft in the desired positionrelative to the block. Y

The lower end of each plate I8 is slotted as indicated by the referencecharacter 35. On

y, either side of the slot 35 the plate is provided with upstanding lugs36 having openings 3l therein for An operating lever 39 hav- Y receivinga 'bolti ing an opening therein for receiving the bolt 38 is mounted onthe lower end of each plate I8 and extends through .the slot in thebottom portion thereof. Each operating lever 39 has a curved end asindicated bythe reference ,character 4I, `and extends through theslotted opening 42 inthe lower end of the cutter holder I2. The

curved end l of each operating lever is adapted to bear against theVcutter holder so as to force the cutter carried by the cutter holderagainst VtheY rising glass Asheet S when raised.YV The other end of eachoperating lever 39 beyond the pivot bolt 38 -is provided with a weightG3 for rotating the operating lever about its pivotal mounting and forforcing the cutter into engagement with the rising glass sheet S.- 'Y

A weight lever ift having a weight $5 thereon is mounted on the rockershaft 26 adjacent one end thereof and suitably secured thereto'. Thisweight lever aids in properly positioning the cutter with respect to therising glass sheet.

As can be seen Afrom the abo-ve` description,

' the cutter by the mechanism which I provideV is yieldably maintainedagainst the rising glass sheet and will score the glass sheet as it iscarried thereby. It will also be apparent that the cutters may be movedValong the-'rocker shaft 25 so as to cut the rising glass sheet to anydesired width.

After rthe rising glass sheet is scored longitudinally by the cuttersabove described, it is scored transversely toappropriate lengths andflexed along the score lines so as-to provide a sheet of the desiredsize. It is apparent that by my invention glass sheets cut to the exactsize desired may be obtained without transferring theV sheets to cuttingtables. The cost of manufacture is, therefore, materially reduced inview of the simplification of the cutting operations, and theelimination of the handling necessarily incident thereto. Y

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of mycinvention,it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited thereby, butthat the invention may be otherwise embodied within the'scope oftheappended claims.

I claim:

Vl. Apparatus for cutting a moving continuous sheet of glass comprisinga cutting tool mounted adjacent the path of travel of the glass sheet,an arm adapted to support said cutting tool adjacent one end thereof,means for pivotally supporting said arm intermediate the Vends thereof,and a second lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for yieldablyholding the cutter in cutting position against said glass as it movespast the cutter, one end of said second pivotally mounted lever beingarranged to engage Y Y the end-of said first mentioned lever forrotatingit about its pivot point. f Y 2. Apparatus for' cutting a movingcontinuous Ysheet of glass comprising a rocker shaft extendingtransversely of the continuous glass-sheet, a slide rock mounted on saidshaft adjacent each end thereof, a ycuttersupport carried by each slideblock, a cutter carrying lever pivotally mounted intermediate itsV endsvcarried by each Yof said cutter supports, a cutter mounted 'on one endof each of said cutter carrying levers, andmeans engaging the opposite'ends of each of said cutter carried thereby in cutting position againstth glass sheet as it travels thereby.

3. Apparatus for cutting a moving continuous i sheet of glass comprisinga rocker shaft extending intermediate Aits ends.carried by each of saidE cutter supports, a cutter mounted on one end of each of said cuttercarrying levers, and a lever pivotally mounted on each said cuttersupport iritermediate its ends and arranged so that one end thereofengages the lower end of its cutter carrying lever for yieldably holdingthe cutter in'cutting position against said glass sheet as it travels 'Ythereby. *Y c 4. Apparatus for cuttmg a moving continuous sheet ofAglass comprising a rocker/shaft'extend- Y carrying levers for yieldablyholding the'cutter ing transversely of the continuous glass sheet, aslide block mounted on said shaft adjacent each end thereof, a cuttersupport carried by each slide block, a cutter carrying'l lever pivotallymounted intermediate its ends carried by each of said cutter supports, acutter mounted on one end of each said cutter carrying levers, and alever pivotally mounted on each said cutter sup-

